A baby’s 1st birthday is usually the most anticipated birthdays since it marks his 1st year of existence in this world! Surprise the parents with a special hamper and make sure to include these items in your gift.

Image by code_martial via Flickr

Baby hampers have been growing in popularity recently due to the fact that new parents love them.Mum and baby get to use every item, and you get the “oohs” and “aahs” of aunts and uncles who thought they couldn’t have gotten a better gift than the one that you got.

Baby hampers are a creative spin on a timeless gift giving tradition.

There’s an unlimited range of choices out there; hampers in different sizes, colours, themes, designs, and combination of items. No two hampers are alike and you are guaranteed to find one that is just as unique for the baby; but if you want to make it extra special, customisation is the way to go. This means you will be building your own baby gift hamper with the items that you selected and wrapped yourself.

Don’t have an idea what to include in the baby hamper? Why not make a call or a visit and fish for some ideas from the new parents? Having a quick chat with them could give you an idea of what they would like to get or better yet, why not just ask them straight ahead? This ensures that the money you spent to purchase the gift is put to good use.

If there’s no way you can get in touch with the parents or you’d rather surprise them, here’s a list of some ideas to help build your very own baby gift hamper:

1. Body care items

• Lotion
• Oil
• Wipes
• Shampoo
• Powder
• Bath
• Sunscreen lotion
• Rash ointment

2. Grooming items

• baby hairbrush
• nail clippers
• cotton swabs

3. Practical items

• thermometer
• baby bottle
• bath thermometer
• bibs
• pacifiers
• bath towel
• wash clothes
• bathing sponge

4. Clothing

• onesies
• socks
• booties
• rompers
• hat

5. Toys

• spoons
• rattles
• books

Anything which you feel is useful on baby can be placed inside the hamper. It doesn’t even have to be baby items. It can be something that mom and dad could really use after having just had a baby. Below are some of the things you can add:

• Wine
• Gift certificate to a spa
• A voucher at a local restaurant
• Bottle of perfume
• Earplugs
• Photo album
• Scented candles
• Chocolates
• Magazine subscription

It’s good to reserve at least 1-2 items for the parents in the hamper. It shows that you also thought of them while making the baby gift. After you have gathered the items, place them all in one big container. It can be any of the following:

• Basket
• Cloth lined basket
• Plastic bowl or a bucket
• Baby bath tub
• Canvas storage box

Arrange the items in the baby gift hamper and if you want to make it look stuffier, place cotton balls, cloths, diapers or boxed wipes at the bottom. This creates the illusion of the hamper having more items than there really is. Be as creative as you want when wrapping the baby gift hamper. If not, you can employ the help of a friend who’s good at gift wrapping or get ideas from websites that sell quality gift hampers in Australia or in your local area. There’s a rich source of baby hamper photos to take inspiration from.

In Conclusion

You don’t have to include all these items in the baby hamper nor does all of it have to be in the same category. You can pick one for each to include in the baby hamper. Only get the items which you feel will suit mom and baby best. The parents who receive it will appreciate the thought that went behind the gift and will be able to use all the items in the gift hamper. Did we miss any item? If there’s anything you’d like to add, let us know in the comments

One of the hardest feelings for any parent is to see their child suffering from sickness including a common cold and flu. And during winter season, this is indeed one of the main worries of moms and dads too.

In this article, we will share some tips on how to protect your children and prevent them from having cold and flu this winter season:

Tip 1: Wash hands – teach your kids to make it a habit to wash their hands – before and after they eat and every time they use the bathroom. Kids are playful by nature – they love to run around, climb everywhere, and pick up whatever that calls their attention. And because of this playfulness, it is easy for them to pick up bacteria and viruses. Washing their hands will kill off germs and bacteria and prevent sickness like flu or cold. Rubbing hands with alcohol gel, commonly called hand sanitizer, will also keep bacteria and viruses away. These Custom Hand Sanitizer are available at your local store or pharmacy.

Tip 2: Flu vaccine – seasonal flu vaccine is also effective to prevent cold and flu. Children ages 2 to 9 need two doses of flu vaccine if it is their first time to receive it. The first dose improves their immune system while the second shot given 28 days or more after the first dose serves as their protection from flu.

Tip 3: Dress warm – Rhinovirus that causes common cold replicates better during cold weather. And since the body’s immune system weakens as the temperature drops, it is more common to catch cold during winter season. You should keep your kids warm by dressing them with appropriate, thick clothes that will keep them warm most especially when going out of the house.

Tip 4: Drink lots of fluids –it is also a good practice to drink lots of fluids especially water everyday. Drinking water will flush out the toxins in the body.

Tip 5: Drink vitamins – make sure to give them vitamins every day to boost their immune system. In case they’ve already caught the virus, be sure to give them medicine immediately. Codral cold and flu capsules or tablets are perfect for adults and children 12 years old and above.

Tip 6: Avoid sharing cups and utensils – you should prevent your kids from sharing cups and other utensils even with family members. Colds can easily spread through shared cups, towels, and other things so it is best to be safe and use their own set of things.

Tip 7: Cover mouth and nose – instruct them to cover their mouth and nose when they sneeze or cough. This is both to prevent spreading and acquiring the virus.

Tip 8: Avoid crowded places – during the cold and flu season, it is advisable to stay away from crowded places like public playgrounds, malls, and parks where viruses and bacteria are rampant.

Tip 9: Eat healthy – you should also make sure to prepare healthy meals for your kids so they get enough nutrients to strengthen their immune system. Avoid junk foods and fast food meals.

Tip 10: Rest – lastly, you should make sure the kids get enough sleep and rest to keep their bodies strong and healthy so they don’t get sick or infected easily.

Protect your kids from symptoms of cold and flu. Follow the tips discussed in this article so you can feel at ease knowing that your kids are protected. Also, be sure to take care of your own health so you do not catch cold and flu virus and infect anyone in your household especially your children.

Getting kids to eat a healthy meal can be challenging to say the least, especially in a world inundated with fast food chains on every corner. It doesn’t have to be a struggle though if you know how to hide the healthy items in deliciousness without defeating all of the health benefits of eating healthy items.

Camouflage

If it taste good and kids don’t know something that they hate is in the dish, they will eat it without any argument. Try grating carrots, cabbage, or Brussel Sprouts into tomato based sauces such as spaghetti sauce and lasagna sauces. The tomato sauce will cover any unpleasant flavors as well as bring out the sweetness in typically bitter items like Brussel Sprouts.

Be Creative

Serve items such as zucchini bread or banana bread for dessert instead of more heavily sugar laden choices like cakes, brownies, and ice cream; kids will scarf down these healthy vegetables without knowing they are eating something good for them.

Think Smoothies

Kids love milkshakes, so why not swap them out for the healthier version and serve smoothies for snacks and on the go breakfasts. All it takes to make a quick and healthy filling treat for the road is a quality blender, a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, some plain yogurt, a few ice cubes, and to go cups.

Keep it Simple

There is no need to over complicate menu items when trying to get your children to eat a more healthy diet, especially for smaller children. Although it is good to introduce your kids to a more varied pallet of cuisine, it is also important to remember kids just want something simple that tastes good.

So keep the majority of meals simple and straight forward; a nice roast with vegetables from the crockpot is just as enticing as that chicken croquet you were thinking of making, if not more so. Not only will you be creating a meal your kids will eat without a lot of fuss, you will also free up some of your valuable time to actually spend with them.

Make the Swap

By nature kids are programmed to want to eat more natural food items such as fruit. It isn’t until they are supplied with junk foods that their natural instincts are overridden with fatty and sugary food cravings. Swap out store bought snacks like chips and cookies with healthier options when filling your cupboards. Keep a varied selection of fresh fruits, carrot sticks, celery sticks, nuts, and cheese sticks on hand for fast and easy snacks that kids can get themselves when they get home from school or when then just want a snack.

It is difficult to monitor what your kids are eating all day long when they are not in your presence and have so many unhealthy food options at every turn. However, if you make sure to provide plenty of easy to get, healthy snack and meal options at home, it will help your children maintain the healthy life style that you want for them

Christmas shopping is one of those tasks that leave us mixed with emotion, wanting to get just the right gift for each person on the list, yet not wanting to break the bank. If you have baby girls on your list, then you may be feeling like falling into the same old baby doll trap. But, here are seven ideas for the baby girls on your list that don’t include dolls.

Gender Neutral Gifts

If you really don’t know the child that well, this is your safest gift option. Gender neutral gifts such as books, blocks, and snuggly stuffed bears are a good way to meet your gift giving obligations without purchasing something that may not mesh with the child’s personality.

Athletic Options

Contrary to the old saying, not all girls are dressed in pink and want to play house. Depending on the age of the baby this may be more difficult than some other gift options. Consider a year membership to Gymboree or some type of organization that works on the child’s motor skills and then wrap a sporty little outfit in the box with the gift certificate.

Stretch Their Brain

It’s never too early to stimulate a child’s brain. Check into one of the many learning toys on the market. There are toys for all ages that will stimulate brain growth and aid in their development.

Homemade

Baby’s may be too young to truly understand the sentiment behind homemade gifts, but if you give a baby a one of a kind homemade stuffed animal, or cozy blanket, they will find the sentiment in it all on their own. For most of us some of our fondest childhood snuggle friends and memories were simple homemade gifts that we drug around for decades.

 Movement Toys­

Once a baby becomes mobile there is no stopping them. Consider some type of walker or push toy that helps the child in their physical development. Just remember they don’t walk for long before they are running and you are trying to keep up with them.

Creative Outlets

Children are never too young to learn how to create things. Again, be conscious of age appropriate safety limitations, but think about getting the child one of the many age appropriate arts and crafts kit toys on the market. This could be something as simple as a fasteners blanket that teaches them how to tie shoestrings, and button buttons, to something more advanced like coloring books and washable crayons. Avoid the scented crayons for younger age groups however, since they will not have a sense of food versus smells like food.

Entertainment

Consider getting the child one of their favorite movies, or books. Reading to your child at an early age helps stimulate their minds ability to form sounds and read. Some shows meant for toddler age children such as “Baby Einstein” are great gifts that engage young children in music, reading, and adventure entertaining them while they learn from a very early age.

The most important thing to remember when buying a gift for a baby girl is to keep in mind the child’s age, and possible interests so that you can give them a gift that is not only safe for them to handle, but something they will cherish for years to come.